True biblical Christianity is far different from what we see in most modern churches. When we read the New Testament, we are brought face to face with the fact that every believer is expected to be a participant, not an observer, in world-wide evangelism. In our world, however, many believers view world evangelism as merely a spectator sport.
Jesus Christ calls us to do so much more than just observe the world from a distance. He calls us to deny ourselves and get in the field of world evangelization. He clearly set forth our great responsibility in Matthew 28:18–19 when He said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” We obey our Lord’s command when we go to those who are near us, pray for those who are taking the gospel to those we cannot reach, and give to the cause of world evangelization. When we go, pray, and give, we are obeying the exhortations of the Word of God.
By obeying the Great Commission, we are following in the footsteps of our Saviour. First Peter 2:21 says, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” During Christ’s earthly ministry, He went seeking those who needed to be saved. He went to those who His culture deemed untouchable and unlovable. If we want to be like Christ, we have to spread the gospel. That was the main part of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
By obeying the Great Commission, we are also fulfilling the mandate of our Lord. The Great Commission was Christ’s final instruction to the church during His earthly ministry. After teaching us how to witness, He gave this great responsibility to us as the church.
We are also paying our debt when we seek to win the lost. Paul said in Romans 1:14–16, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” We have something that many in our world don’t: the knowledge of how to have eternal life. We owe it to those around us to share that with them. We are doing a disservice to them if we fail to share the truth.
Finally, in fulfilling the Great Commission, we are performing our task as ambassadors for Christ. Second Corinthians 5:20–21 says, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” As ambassadors for Christ, we represent Christ in every area of our lives. Just as an ambassador is chosen by his country to represent them, God has chosen the church to be the bearers of light to this dark world.
All members of the body of Christ should determine to do all they can to make Christ known to the world. We were not simply called to salvation; we were called to be servants to our Lord, fulfilling His purpose for our lives. John 17:15–18 says, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.”
God has chosen us as the church to be the ones to spread the truth. This is a great responsibility that He has entrusted to us. No Christian should take this task lightly. We need to be participants, not just observers, in this task of worldwide evangelization.
